The business and culture of our digital lives, from the L.A. Times

Microsoft, yet again, reportedly considers buying Yahoo

On Wednesday, Reuters reported that Microsoft was mulling over the idea of making a bid for the struggling Web company that fired its last CEO, Carol Bartz, in early September.

If Microsoft were to buy Yahoo, it's likely the company would be able to do so at a much lower price than the nearly $47 billion it reportedly offered in 2008.

Obviously, a lot can change between 2008 and 2011. Yahoo has a current market value of about $18 billion.

Yahoo stock rose 10% to close at $15.92 on Wednesday, fueled in large part by the Reuters report of Microsoft's interest. However, Reuters also reported that although Microsoft is flirting with the idea of a Yahoo takeover, it has yet to make a formal offer because of an internal split over whether buying Yahoo would be a good move.

Amid all of this, Yahoo is trying to figure out what to do with itself by way of a strategic review that could take months to complete.

It's also still looking for a new permanent CEO to replace Bartz. Until then, Yahoo Chief Financial Officer Timothy Morse has been filling in as interim CEO.

Among other options Yahoo seems to be facing: Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. Chairman Jack Ma said he was "very interested" in making a bid and said he's been in discussions with Yahoo and other potential buyers.

Ma hasn't named those other potential buyers. AOL has reportedly been interested in buying Yahoo, too. Yahoo co-founder and board member Jerry Yang has also reportedly been working on buying back a controlling share of the company.

Yang, Bartz's predecessor as CEO, left Yahoo's top post after the sale to Microsoft fell apart.